Doorknob



Aug. 11, 1925. I

' G. E. BURTON DOORKNOB Filed Nov. 5, 23

Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

QUNETED STATES PATENT QFFEE GEORGE ERNEST BUR-TON, OF ISLINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR 01E ONE-HALF TO EDWARD STEPHENS, 0F TORONTO, CANADA.

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Application filed November may be readily attached to the lock spindle without the aid of fastening screws, or other fastening attachments that may become loosened or displaced, by which the handle may become loose and pull off.

The object of the device is to arrange within the interior of the handle, a self ad justing clutch mechanism that will firmly grip against the spindle, when the handle is forced over the end of the spindle.

By this method of attaching the handle to the spindle, the knob will fit'and engage close up against the face of the door or plate of the lock, and eliminate all loose play; and the handle will hold firmly so that it cannot be pulled off.

The device is specially adapted to be used in connectionwith metal door knobs where the handle is formed by a hollow metal shell, but it is also adapted to be used in connection with any of the standard door knobs, and with the various shapes and designs.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view showing the knob and parts in cross section;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the spindle sleeve;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the adjusting or releasing ring, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the thimble washer.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the drawings and specifications:

a designates the lower half and b the upper half of the outside shell of a standard metal door knob.

c designates a tubular shaped inset casing adapted to be fitted within the interior of the shank portion of the lower half of the outside shell. The casing is firmly held in position by the inward pressure of the walls of the shell.

Contained within one end of the casing 0 is a metal sleeve 0' having a longitudinal square bore f formed centrally therethrough 5, 1923. Serial No. 672,739.

through which passes the square spindle g of the door lock when the knob is attached.

Formed in one end of the sleeve 6 are a series of notches h, in which are loosely fitted a series of rollers 2', adapted to engage against the faces of the spindle when inserted in the bore.

Also contained within the inset casing 0 in position adapted to engage against the rollers a, is a thimble shaped washer j. The washer j is maintained with an inward pressure against the rollers by the action of a coiled tension spring 70, located in the end of the casing, the spring being held in position by the inwardly turned ends of the casing.

i The washer j is conicalshaped, and is placed with the smaller end engaging slightly under the lo'wer edge of the rollers i, when in normal position, and with the normal and regular tension of the. spring 70. This prevents the rollers from displacing or from dropping out of the notches, and into the bore 7 in the sleeve, when the spindle is removed, or before the knob has been forced over the spindle.

The casing 0 is slightly reduced in circumference by a gradual curve, at a point opposite where the rollers are interiorly located, so that the rollers will be in continuous contact with the inner walls of the casing when being adjusted by the action of the spring and-washer, when the spindle is being inserted.

The opposite end of the sleeve 2 to that in which the notches are formed, is slightly reduced to form a shoulder m, and the extreme outer end of the reduced portion is oxteriorly screw: threaded. The outer end of the casing c is turned inwardly to engage against the shoulder m. to prevent the sleeve 6 from slipping out through the end of the casing.

0 designates a releasing or adjusting ring screwed on the end of the sleeve 6, it is adapted to engage in between the end of the shank portion of the lower half a of the knob, and against the face of the door when the knob is on the spindle, or the spindle in the handle.

In normal position the ring 0 is interposed between the inner end of the knob and the face of the door when the knob is properly placed on. the spindle. To remove the knob from the spindle the ring is slightly turned in the direction to screw it oli', the edge of the ring being notched tor the introduction of a key or other suit able instrument to facilitate in turning it. As the ring turns and as it cannot screw off by the engagement with the face of the door, the result is that the sleeve is forced inwardly against the tension of the spring in. By this action the rollers are caused to engage against the upwardly inclined walls of the thiinble 7' and against the curved and enlarged portion of the casing, and thus raise from contacting with the spindle which releases the grip from the spindle, and allows the knob to be pulled off.

To set the knob to adapt it to again attach it to the spindle, the ring 0 is turned in the opposite direction to that for disengaging the roller from the spindle, when the sleeve will be forced outwardly by the action of the coiled tension spring 70, until checked by the ends a of the casing 0 engaging against the shoulder m of the sleeve.

The inset casing 0 may be firmly forced into the shank portion of the knob, or it may be fastened or secured in any suitable way.

Various modifications may be made in the arrangement and form of the parts without in any way deviating from the nature of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A door knob consisting of a tubular casing adapted to be inserted into the shank portion thereof, a metal sleeve adjustably retained in said casing, notches formed in one end of the said sleeve, a series of rollers loosely fitted in said notches, a thimble shaped washer engaging with the said rollers, a coiled tension spring engaging against the said washer, the ends of the said casing being formed inwardly to maintain the several parts in combination therein and against longitudinal displacement, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A door knob consisting of a tubular casing adapted to be secured within the shank portion of the knob, an adjustable sleeve fitted in the end of the said casing, a series of notches formed in the end of the said sleeve, rollers loosely contained in the said notches, a thimble shaped washer engaging with the lower edges of the said rollers, a coiled spring engaging with the said washer to maintain an adjustable tension therewith, the said rollers being adapted to engage in clutch relation with a square spindle when engaging in the said sleeve, as and for the purpose specified.

3. A door knob consisting of a tubular casing, an adjustable metal sleeve fitted in one end of the said casing, an adjusting ring fitted on the projecting end of the said sleeve, notches formed in the inner end of the said sleeve, binding rollers loosely contained in the said notches, a thimble shaped washer set in adjacent relation with the said rollers, a coiled tension spring engaging against the said washer, said washer adapted to retain the said rollers in engaging relation in the said notches, with a square spindle when fitted in the said sleeve, as and for the purpose specified.

4:. A door knob consisting of an inset tubular casing, an adjustable square bored sleeve fitted in one end thereof, a series of rollers loosely fitted in notches formed in one end of the said sleeve, a thimble shaped washer engaging with the said washers, a coiled spring adapted to maintain the said washer and said rollers in adjustable relation with the interior of the square bore, said rollers being adapted to engage in binding contact with a square spindle when inserted into the said bore, an adjusting ring fitted on the projecting end of the said sleeve, said ring adapted to adjust the said sleeve in longitudinal relation and release the said rollers from contacting with the said spindle, as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Toronto, this th day of October 1923.

GEORGE ERNEST BURTON.

In the presence of E. W. D. BUTLER, A. A. ADAMS. 

